Every year in January, near the statue of Hugh Mercer and Mary Washington’s grave, the Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, supported by the Commandery of the Knights Templar, host a parade and ceremony at the Religious Freedom Memorial in Fredericksburg, Virginia, honoring this great and historic event. Each year, the Knights of Columbus invites a special guest speaker and honors the religious leaders of every faith in the local community. What appeals most and what few people understand, is the labored relationship through history that surrounds the Roman Catholic Church and Freemasonry. Because of this, the symbology of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights Templar, marching together, is significant and well represents the ideas of Freedom and Tolerance that Thomas Jefferson had envisioned for his state, and later his nation. A vision which promises America that our Strength comes from our Diversity, embracing the idea of God, yet allowing each human to decide their own path to him.

Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in Virginia

Knights of Columbus (foreground) and Knights Templar (background).

Color Guards for the Knights of Columbus, US Marine Corps, and the Masonic Heroes of ‘76.

Every year on January 15th, near the statue of Hugh Mercer and Mary Washington’s grave, the Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, supported by the Commandery of the Knights Templar, host a parade and ceremony at the Religious Freedom Memorial in Fredericksburg, Virginia, honoring this great and historic event. Each year, the Knights of Columbus invites a special guest speaker and honors the religious leaders of every faith in the local community. What appeals to me most and what few people understand, is the relationship that surrounds the Roman Catholic Church and Freemasonry. Because of this, the symbology of the Knights of

Columbus and the Knights Templar, marching together, is significant and well represents the ideas of Freedom and Tolerance that Thomas Jefferson had envisioned for his state, and later his nation. A vision which promises America that our Strength comes from our Diversity, embracing the idea of God, yet allowing each human to decide their own path to him.